Resources
- Don't Break Your Concentration(s)
Zeroing in on your donor hot spots can help you raise funds even in times of economic uncertainty. Around the time that the housing crisis was coming to a head, many nonprofits started to cut back on their direct-mail acquisition efforts. - Erica Waasdorp Shares World of Experience with Recurring Gifts in FundRaising Success Magazine
August 2012 – After speaking on a panel at the DMA Nonprofit Federation Conference in Washington, D.C., Erica Waasdorp, Senior Fundraising Consultant for DMW Direct Fundraising, was asked to develop an article for FundRaising Success Magazine.
Erica shared extensive understanding of successful monthly giving programs in a piece titled "Recurring (Gifts) Dream." Experience working with nonprofits in other countries informs her position that the U.S. lags behind when it comes to monthly giving programs. On the upside, the United States is on the right course to catch up with other parts of the world in this category. "I am proud to say that one of my clients currently has 20 percent of its zero to 12-month donor file on monthly giving, representing half of the organization's overall annual revenue," states Waasdorp.
Although direct response TV and face-to-face fundraising can produce great results, most nonprofits do not have the funds to invest in those media. Erica cites the benefits of online and direct mail to grow a monthly giving program and boost your overall donations.
Click here to read the entire FundRaising Success article.
About Erica Waasdorp
Erica Waasdorp is currently writing a comprehensive guide to monthly giving. Erica has helped organizations raise millions of dollars through starting and expanding monthly giving programs. She can be reached at ewaasdorp@dmwdirect.com or at (508) 202-4011. - The Art of Testing
We view ourselves as lifelong learners and want to stay abreast of important topics in our industry. For this reason, “DMW University” is held monthly as an internal training session on various topics associated with fundraising and direct mail. This month, we tackled the intricacies of TESTING. Check out the Power Point presentation here.
- The Golden Rule for Writing RFP's
As a fundraising agency, we deal on a regular basis with the joys and struggles of answering Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Some organizations call them Requests for Information, some Requests for Quotes, Requests for Pricing, etc.
- Avoid the Penalty
The Super Bowl is over. The boys of summer have just taken the field. And March madness has only recently subsided. That can only mean one thing to a public media development professional. It's budget time! - Why Fulfillment and Donor Relations are Even More Important for Monthly Giving
You already know your relationships with your regular donors are important, not only to cultivate and upgrade them, but also to keep them giving to your organization. But what about monthly donors? - Geo-Mapping Myth Busters: Four List-Targeting Strategies That May Help You Find Hidden Gold
Executives spend millions in research and site planning to determine the optimum location for a business based on traffic patterns, demographics, and competitive analysis. Homebuyers spend hours evaluating the school districts, tax rates, and proximity to shopping before purchasing a home. Yet, nonprofit organizations often fish for new donors and members across a vast market defined (sometimes) rather haphazardly. - Directly Speaking - Make Miss Manners and Your CFO Happy
Sending a timely, relevant thank-you letter in return for any gift is the prudent and mannerly thing to do – both in our private lives, and in business. It’s all about preserving a relationship, communicating appropriately, and establishing and maintaining a personal style. - How you can BREATHE NEW LIFE into lapsed donors and DOUBLE your results!
In conjunction with DMW Direct's Media group and our data processing partner, we designed a merge/purge process that would identify lapsed donors who matched against one or more outside lists. - You Can See the Future by Looking Within Yourself
The eight hundred pound gorilla in the room at a recent non profit conference was, of course, the economy and how charities are coping with these tough times. - Secrets to Success: Nine Professional Habits to Make You a Pro
As an agency guy, I’ve worked directly with many folks from nonprofit organizations over the last 25 years. All have been a delight to know, but some seem to struggle to get things done while others just go with the flow and never seem to break a sweat. - The RFP Process: Make the first date count, and the relationship should be worthwhile.
Selecting a fundraising agency to build your donor or membership program can be a tough decision. It makes sense, then, to prepare a Request for Proposal that gives responding agencies the proper information and asks the right questions - Your Bottom Line: Slash It with a Savvy Approach to Production
Saving money is imperative in today’s economy. With budgets being slashed and revenues down, nonprofit organizations are under tremendous pressure to cut costs.
DMW on the Road
April 22 – 25, 2013
American Museum Membership Conference
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
May 8 – 9, 2013
Fundraising Success Case Study Conference
WHYY
Philadelphia, PA
May 13 – 16, 2013
PBS Annual Meeting
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Miami, FL
July 11 – 13, 2013
Public Media Development & Marketing Conference
Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Atlanta, GA
July 31 – August 2, 2013
Bridge to Integrated Marketing & Fundraising
Gaylord National Hotel & Conference Center
National Harbor, MD
September 12 – 15, 2013
National Catholic Development Conference
Grapevine, TX